Patience and persistent diplomacy required in Middle East: US

Returning from his maiden trip to the Middle East as the Special US Envoy, senator George Mitchell told the US president Barack Obama that a patience and persistent diplomacy could help in meeting his administration's goals of a long term peace in the region.
    
Mitchell, who has been empowered by the president to take all necessary measures on his behalf with the aim of finding a permanent and lasting solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, briefed Obama at White House on his trip to the region.
    
During his week-long tour, Mitchell visited Cairo, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Amman, Riyadh, Paris and London and had meetings with top leaders of the countries he visited.     

On Tuesday he had briefed the secretary of state Hillary Clinton at the State Department. Clinton was also present during Mitchell's meeting with Obama.
    
"He (Mitchell) remains convinced that patience and persistent American diplomacy can help advance the ball on these efforts," said White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs.
    
"The president shares that view and looks forward to continuing to work closely with secretary Clinton and senator Mitchell," he said.

Mitchell is now developing a specific set of next steps, he said, adding that Obama "looks forward to hearing more about that".
    
Meanwhile, the State Department said on Wednesday that Mitchell is planning to visit the region later this month. This would be his second trip after he was appointed as the Special US Envoy last month.
    
Clinton has asked Mitchell to go back to the region, and he plans to do that sometime before the end of the month, said the State Department spokesperson Robert Wood.
    
"Senator Mitchell is looking to have a much more sustained presence in the region. I think we're still trying to work out the details of that footprint and where it will be," he said.
    
In his brief remarks after meeting Clinton at the State Department, Mitchell had said: "I'm convinced, after a week there, that my original assessment that with patient, determined, and persevering diplomacy, we can help to make a difference and that we can assist those in the region achieve the peace and stability that people on all sides long for."